Prototype theory has been put forward as a useful tool in lexicographic
theory and practice. In this article I discuss the use of prototype
theory in lexicographic word sense definition. I suggest that many
lexicographic practices already build upon ideas similar to prototype
theory but that the theory can make lexicographic work more consistent
and systematic. However, the main contribution of prototype
theory (and cognitive semantics) would seem to be an increased
focus on data and methods, favoured by close connections between
strands of corpus linguistics, cognitive linguistics and lexicography.